8/22. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1477 — Each Qur'an Mode Is Sufficient
Allah Revealed The Qur'an According To Seven Ahruf'
Seven Modes of the Qur'an: Each Mode Is Sufficient
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1477
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1477
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَعْمُرَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ صُرَدٍ الْخُزَاعِيِّ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أُبَىُّ إِنِّي أُقْرِئْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فَقِيلَ لِي عَلَى حَرْفٍ أَوْ حَرْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي مَعِي قُلْ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ . قُلْتُ عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ . فَقِيلَ لِي عَلَى حَرْفَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٍ . فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي مَعِي قُلْ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةٍ . قُلْتُ عَلَى ثَلاَثَةٍ . حَتَّى بَلَغَ سَبْعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَيْسَ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ شَافٍ كَافٍ إِنْ قُلْتَ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا مَا لَمْ تَخْتِمْ آيَةَ عَذَابٍ بِرَحْمَةٍ أَوْ آيَةَ رَحْمَةٍ بِعَذَابٍ " .
Ubayy bin Ka'b Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Ubayy, I was asked to recite the Qur'an and I was asked: 'In one mode or two modes?' The angel that accompanied me said: 'Say, in two modes', I said: 'In two modes', I was asked again: 'In two or three modes'. The matter reached up to seven modes. He then said: 'Each mode is sufficiently health-giving, whether you utter 'all-hearing and all-knowing' or instead 'all-powerful and all-wise'. This is valid until you finish the verse indicating punishment on mercy and finish the verse indicating mercy on punishment."
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1477In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 62English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1472
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1477
This hadith from Ubayy ibn Ka'b gives more detail about the Qur'an being recited in several modes. The Prophet said he was asked whether to recite in one mode or two. The angel with him told him to ask for two, then three, until the matter reached seven modes. The narration then says that each mode is sufficient and healing. It gives examples of endings such as all-hearing and all-knowing, or all-powerful and all-wise, while also setting a limit: one should not finish a verse of punishment with mercy or a verse of mercy with punishment. The hadith shows ease in recitation, but also keeps meaning and proper placement from being confused.
What we learn from this hadith
- The seven modes were connected with ease for recitation.
- Each mode is described as sufficient in the narration.
- Meaning should not be changed by ending punishment with mercy or mercy with punishment.
- The hadith balances ease with care in Qur'an recitation.
